Throughout the course of OTAs and mandatory minicamp, Alex Highsmith had a good feeling that his ongoing contract extension talks were going to be resolved by the time this week approached.
After all, he wanted to arrive in Latrobe for training camp and focus on getting back to his craft after a breakout 2022 season for the Steelers. He made it known that he wanted to remain in Pittsburgh, the place that helped him develop into the premier pass rusher he is in today's NFL.
His performance from 2022 was rewarded handsomely, and the relationship that blossomed last season will continue on. Pen was put to paper last week on a four-year, $68 million extension that will keep the 25-year-old Highsmith a Steeler through the 2027 season, locking a player that fits Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin's system in place.
Now, the focus is on building on a breakout season.
“I just felt like this is the place for me," Highsmith said in a midday press conference Monday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "I love being here, love playing for this defense, the system that I’m in, the coaching staff, and everybody. I love being here and I feel like, year by year, I’ve continued to get better. I know that my best ball is in front of me, and even last year, I felt like I could’ve played way better last year, and I just look forward to continuing to improve and being here, I wanted to let everyone know that I’m here to work and I’m here to get better.”
In 2022, Highsmith's five forced fumbles tied for first in the NFL, his 14.5 sacks led the Steelers and were sixth-most in the NFL, and his 12 tackles for loss were two off of Cam Heyward's team-leading pace.
That performance was rewarded by Omar Khan, who made Highsmith the soon-to-be 12th-highest paid pass rusher in the league based on average annual value. The extension keeps Highsmith intact opposite T.J. Watt through at least 2026 when Watt's current contract is set to expire.
“It’s been awesome playing with him my first three years in the league," Highsmith said of Watt. "Coming in, getting to be teammates with him and Bud (Dupree) was so big for me. I feel like coming in with those two being the best, some of the best at their position when I came in, and being able to learn from them and take -- being like a sponge is what I wanted to be my rookie year and sucking up information from them, and now the past couple years to play alongside T.J., I feel like we’ve continued to get better together and continued to develop more cohesiveness, so I feel like being with him has just been awesome. I can continue to learn from him, I can continue to pick his brain about stuff, about rushing the passer and stuff like that. It’s been cool, really, developing chemistry with him. I look forward to the havoc we’re going to cause this year.”
And beyond.
A big part of Highsmith's growth as a pass rusher has been his ability to absorb the teachings of well-traveled defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. Highsmith said Dunbar helped him shed old habits from college and molded him into the player he is today.
“It’s been big," Highsmith said. "I think over the past couple of years our relationship has grown. Over the past couple of years it’s just been continuing to learn from him and how he’s helped in my game has just been huge. When I got here there were certain things I was doing in college that I couldn’t do when I got here. I think one thing he’s helped me a lot with, especially, not only my pass rush but my run game as well, just being able to set the edge and being able to control the edge and the outside. I look forward to playing for him for four or five more years. It’s cool, the relationship we have. He called me on Wednesday and said congratulations and everything.”
The Steelers drafted Highsmith with the 102nd pick of the 2020 draft out of Charlotte, making the Wilmington, N.C., native who was a zero-star recruit out of high school their next piece to a defense that finished third in the NFL in scoring defense in his rookie season.
“Something that’s going to stick with me forever," Highsmith said of keeping the mentality as a walk-on. "Being back in college and getting there in 2015 with no offers and zero stars and I didn’t even go into camp my freshman year. As soon as I got there in Charlotte I just wanted to out-work everybody and be the best that I could and I still carry that mindset with me today because I know there’s always people that are going to work to be better than you, and so it’s continuing to work as hard as I can, to be the best for this team, is what I’m going to continue to do.”
He is more than just a piece of the Steelers' defense these days. Alongside Watt, the Steelers have one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL lining up on a daily basis, and it has become imperative to have those pieces shored up given how prevalent quarterback mobility has become in today's NFL.
In the AFC North, that includes having to face former MVP Lamar Jackson, MVP candidate Joe Burrow and three-time Pro Bowler Deshaun Watson twice a year. Adding in AFC contenders means looking at two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and Bills' star Josh Allen, among others.
That will be settled on the field, starting with Thursday's first session at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. But, off the field, Highsmith wanted to make sure the negotiating table was cleared off before he was able to set foot onto those fields to begin chipping at the grindstone that is the 2023 season.
"For me, I just wanted to go into training camp with one thing on my mind, (and that) is to play ball," Highsmith said. "I wanted to be here and throughout the whole contract negotiation and OTAs, I’m someone who likes to work. I don’t like sitting out. Last year I got hurt during camp and it was killing me to not be out there with the guys and working, so I’m someone who always wants to be locked in and focused on ball. I’m excited for Latrobe in a couple days, to get down there and get ready to work.”
